Measuring appliance for package-filling machines



Dec. 28 1926.

A. M. ENGLISH MEASURING APPLIANCE FOR PACKAGE FILLING MACHINES Filed March 51 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet` l Dec. 28 1926. 1,612,105

A. M. ENGLISH MEASURING APPLIANCE FOR PACKAGE FILLING MACHINES Filed March 51. '1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. `28 1926. 1,612,105

A. M. ENGLISH MEASURING APPLIANCE FOR PACKQE FILLING MACHINES Filed March 5l, ,P2325 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4? I 'I `1107 h 10,8

,AM Erg/13h,

Dec. 28,1926. l 1,612,105

A. M. ENGLISH MEASURING APPLIANCE FOR PACKAGE FILLING MACHINES Fi1ed March 31, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

ITED STES PATENT F'Fll.

ANALE() M. ENGLES-, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSINOR TO 'THE RTN BAG FILLING MASI-HNE CFIPAB Y, F FTCHBRG, MASSACHUSETTS, .A CGE-{EURA- TION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

IVIEASRING?` APLIANCE FR PACKAGE-FILLNG MACHNES.

Application filed March 31, 1925.

rlhe invention has for an object to provide a mechanism suitable for use with bag tillmg machines of the general character shown in the patent to Cummings, No. 539,171,

and well known in the art as the Brown bag filling machine. Thisbag-tilling machine includes a bag presenting, a bag open ing and charge guiding means in the form ot a tunnel, and various charge forming elements may be mounted upon the machine to deliver charges to the tunnel. 1t is a purpose in the present invention to provide such a charge forming element which maybe attached to the regular machine, and which is es ecially adapted to use with more bulky artic es than have heretofore been packaged with suoli machines. Specilically, the device is especially adapted lor use withcakes, crackers, and candy, and the particular embodiment herein presented has been especially useful in handling these and other articles which do not tendto settle compactly in the measure quickly or by action of gravity alone under ordinary circumstances. It is a special aim ot the invention to provide a measuring cup and means for iilling this cup with articles to be measured with a minimum liability of abrasion ot' the articles and edect the lilling ot the measure without any mechanical elements other than the cup engaging the articles therein, yet attaining an accurate measurement of such articles with a low degree ot irregularity in quantity, being especially advantageous where light articles are involved.

Another important aim is to provide novel means for preventing articles in hoppers from failing to move properly to the measure by reason or" wedging or cohesion of the articles. A further aim is to provide a novel dash-pot construction in such appliances. It is also desired to etiect the delivery of the charge from the measure with a catapulting action, insuring complete emptying of the measure at each operation and also quickening the movement of charges into bags, cartons or other receivers.

Additional objects are involved, as well as Jfurther advantages and features of novelty and invention, as may be more readily understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of theA measuring apparatus as applied Serial No. 19,721.

to one ofthe Brown bag lilling machines, only a portionof the frame of the bag tilling machine being shown, and the tunnel and bag-presenting 'means being indicated diagrammatically, these details' being well understood in the art and forming no novel details in the present invention. i

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the machine from the right hand side of Figure l, parts being broken away to present a better view of the mechanism. l i

Figurek 3 is a fragmentary elevational view from the same direction as in Figure 2, with further portions broken away.

- Figure 4 is a front elevation of the mechaniem, with parts broken away. A

Figure 5 is a top view of the device. Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 6 ofvFigure 1, looking downwardly.-

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view ot the measuring device at an intermediate position, the view being taken from the opposite direction involved in Figure 1, inthe same plane, approximately.

Figure 8 is a. horizontal sectional ldetail f of the measuring device on the line 8;-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a detail elevation of the bellcrank lever. y

Figure 10 is a detail top view of the base of the hopper. A

Figure 11 is a detail of the lower frame piece of the carriage. l l p "Figure 12 is a plan view ot theV agitator for the hopper. y

Figure 13 is an enlarged vdetail of the jostling cams on the vertical guide and cam rod.

Figure 141 is a detail of the cam engaging arm of the bottom agitator. y

AFigure 15 is a detail of the measure.

Figure 16 is a detail oa modified agitay tor and operative connection, parts not diupon the opposite end ol this shaft 13 carrying a wiper 16 which engages a cam 17 on the sha'lt 11 oit proper proportion to give the desired motion to the arm 14. The 'trame also includes two bracket arms 1S on which various charge forming devices may be mounted. All of the parts thus far described are t'oundV in the regular bag [illing machine mentioned above.

There is illustrated an upper 'trame plaie 21 serving as the bottom of a hopper 22, and having downwardly extending arms 2?, the ends of which are bolted to the upper ends of the arms 18 of the regular machine. rllhe plate has a forwardly and downwardly inclined and cha-nnelled chute supporting arm 24 longitudinally slotted, upon which a chute 25 is adjustable by means ot a bolt 2G en gaged through the slot of the arm 24 and clamping the latter against the base of the chute. The plate 21 is formed with a vertical circular opening 27 therein, with a number et smaller openings 28 therearound and one rectangular opening 29 at the rear part. The latter receives the upper end of a guide and cam bar 80, the lower end ot' which is fixed in the plate 31 secured upon the table 20. The plate 21 is thickened on the lower side around the openings 27, 2S and 29. The bar is of rectilinear form and uniform dimensions throughout its lower part, but at the upper part is formed with a cam tace 82 inclined inwardly and upwardly, the upper end of the bar being substantially thickened from rontto rear and held in the opening 29 of the frame plate by mea-ns of a set screw 30, a similar set screw holding the lower end of the bar in the plate 31. A vertically reciprocable carriage 33 travels throughout the length of the bar 30, and includes the lower carriage framepiece 34, upon which are mounted two rollers 35 respectively at the forward and back sides of the bar 30, as well as a retainer plate 36 extending beside the rollers opposite the piece 34. The pintle by which the outer roller 35 is mounted is utilized also as a. wrist pin for a connecting rod 37, eXt-eriorly threaded and held by nuts y 3S longitudinally adjustable in a block 38 which is pivoted upon the outer end ot the arm 14, through which means the carriage is lifted, The carriage comprises further an upstanding bar 40, riveted to the piece 34 and carrying near its upper end a top carriage frame plate 41, corresponding to the one 34, but carrying directly only one guide roller 35 which is at the outer side of the bar 30. It may also be noted that the trame piece 34 is offset toward the inner side, to permit mortising of thebar 40 therein, while the upper piece 41 is offset toward the outer side for the same purpose, the bar in each instance lyinggin a plane with the rear parts of the pieces 34 and 41. The bar 40 extends upwardly a short distance further and has fixed thereon the hollow cylindrical piston 42, which is snugly and slidably fitted in the openingl 27, projecting some distance above the plate 21 when at the upper limit ot its movement, as shown in Figure 1. The upper end of the piston is closed by a head 4, the outer face ot which comprises a segn'ient ol a cylinder concentric with a horizontal pin 44 mounted adjacent the front side oi' the piston.. On this pin there is mounted tor oscillation'an arm 45 movable in a slot 46 on the t'ront side ot the piston, the arm 45 being shaped and movable to lie extended longitudinally of the piston so as to close the slot 46 at times and aline with (he piston. It carries at its upper end a measuring cup 47 ot cylindrical `form and the same diameter as the piston, its lower end terminating on the same radius as the head 43% of the piston, so that when the arm is moved to inward position the cup will form a continuation of the piston, and may drop into the opening 27 to permit material in the hopper to tall into the cup. The cup is moved to discharge position as shown in Figure 1, as it reaches the upper limit ot its movement, by means of a rack 48 longitudinally slidable in the piston and meshed with a gear segment 49 iormed on the stem 45 concentric with the mounting pin 44. The rack 48 is channelled and supported in proper engagement with the segnient 49 by means ot a roller tracking in the channel and having trunnions set in open slots at the inner ends ot the arms ot a Ushaped bracket 51 iXed within the piston at the rearV side. Move ment of the rack 4S is accomplished by operation of a bell-crank lever 52 mounted upon a pintle 53 fixed in the upper carriage trame piece 41 just within the bar 30. It has a downwardly extending arm provided with a wiper 54 which engages the inner Jface o1 the bar 30, and a laterally extending arm pivotally connected to a bar 55 rigidly attached to the lower end of the rack 48 to operate the latter. The wiper 54 is held in proper bearing with the bar 30 by means ot a contractile spring 56, the upper end of which is connected by a short link 57 to an extension 5S on the upper side of the bell crank lever 52. The lower end of the spring 56 is connected to a pin in the bar 40 ot' the carriage. A main contractile spring 81 is anchored below at 19 1 and 2) con nected at its upper end to the arm 15 to return the carriage to lowermost position.

With the apparatus described, the carriage will be reciproeated between discharge position shown in full lines in Figure 1, and loading position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, und-er rotation of the cam 17, in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1. As the piston moves downwardlythe wiper 54 following the cam face 32 of the bar E30-the bell crank leverV 52 will draw the arm downwardly, operating the cupI to move it into erect position in alinement with the piston, in time to move properly into the opening 27 and receive a charge of the ma` terial inthe hopper. As the carriage moves to uppermost position the cam tace 32 nieves the bell crank lever 52 upwardlyv and quickly throws the cup 47 to the position shown in Figurev l, effecting a catapulting discharge ot the material in the cup through thel chute 25 into the ,tunnel 59.

To prevent shock to the part-s 'from abrupt stoppage ot the carriage at the lower limit ot its movement, a dash-pot (58' is provided in the plate 3l, the dasher 03 ot' which is provided with' a rubber cushion 6l in theM upper side upon which the lower end of the carriage frame engages. rl'he flasher includes a piston portion (i5 titted snugly in a cylinder' 66, and a cylindrical headportionl 67 itted in a corresponding enlargement ot` the cylinder, a heli 'al springr 69 being confined between the head ano the shoulder at the inner end oi the enlargement et the cylinder. The piston 05 is checked at the outer limit of its movement by plates 70 having tongues engaged in slots 71 in respective sides ot the head of the dasher. The lower end otthe cylinder is closed'by aV block 72 longitudinally adjustable therein;y whichblock is provided with aninlet port and check valve 73 and a vent port and vent,-V ree'ulating screw 74e, the function otI which will be readily understood.

-lt is desirable also to cushion' the movement ot the cup on the' piston 47 ,in its returnto initial. position esj'iecially. For this purpose, an upstanding' piston 75 is pivoted between' ears 70 at the inner endotthe lower carriage trame piece Setbesidetlie barr 40, an inlet port 77 opening` from onefside thereof through the' inner end'ot'the piston,where a check valve 78 is provided. This piston is slidable in a cylinder 70 the upper end of' which is pivotedon the lower end of the bar by which the rack tis'operatedi A vent and regulatingy screw are provided at the' upper end otl the`cylinde`r`as'at 30`in Figure l: V

For insuring properf movement-- ot" stock in the hopperinto the eup`fl7 when at the lower limit ot its movement,v a` series of plunfrers 32 are slidably mounted in1 Athe openings 28 of the iframe plate21.v These" are all connected ati their lower ends to` an agitator 'trame S3 shown in'lligure l2, the iorward part ot which is offset downwardly so that it may operate below the'thickened part ofthe plate, theremainder ofthe trame 83 being: disposed above this level,` whereby interference with the parts on the carriage is avoided. The forward opening 28 is termed ina thickened part ot theplate 21' and into theloiver'end ofthe longplunger 82 in thisopening there isscrewedan opercam by incansot a springtlti connected to a pin inserted through the arm 86, the other end ot the spring; being anchored on the plate 2l, as seen in Figures 2 and 4. The cani S7 isy provided with'amajor portion ot concentric term, a drop or recess 3S) being` toi-med therein at one point., and the wiper is termed with a recess -sothat whenthe diopextentls past the high part ot the slice, the'hin'h part` ol the cam-may enter the reccsstltlandthe springt` 83 may draw therod 8l andl assembly upwardly, torcing the ji'lungersabove the plate 21- and jarring the contents ol the hopper. This action occurs when tliecarriage reaches the lower part of its movement.

Coacting with the plungers 82 for movement ot stoel; in the hopper toward the measuring cup,as"may be found especially desirable in case the articlesto be measured beccare very sticky, lhave provided a feeder agitator or plunger 100, shown in Figures t and 5,'operating` through the lower part or the receiving' portion 93 ot the hopper, which located to one side ot theplate 2l, the stoel; to be measured being' introduced into the receiving' portion, and-admitted over the plate 2l through an adjustable opening at 94k to a rectangular box-like portion 95 orer the plate 2li This bor; 95 is ot' low altitiide, so'that an operator may gain access directly to the parts' therein with a ininin'iumoildilnculty. The iront side is lower than the Vother 'sides so as-to permit the movenient ot the cupe/7V jtreely to discharge position, permitting' the eupto be inclined downwardly at the completion ot its discharge movement.- rllhe size ot the opening Sil' may be regulated by` means otl a vertically adjustable plate 96 formino' the partition between the receiving portion ot the hopper andthe box 95. The feeder agitator 100 is mounted bcneathithe receiving portion 93 oil the hopper so afs to move across the portion 93 and through the opening 94; toward the opening;- 27.- It consists oty a block of suitable material ot curved torni. concentric with a pivotscrew lOlV by which a lever 1102cz'irryingi` the block l00 is' pivoted on the side et the arm 23 oil the 'tra-me plate 2l. A spring 103 holds the device yielding'ly in retracted position, as shown. The lever 102 projectsinwardly beyond the pivot and has a link 104 connected thereto extending downwardly and connectedkmedially to a lever 105, one' end ot which is pivoted on the trame l0 adjacent the shaft 1l, with its opposite end projected toward the cam 17 and very closethereto. A pin 10o is carried by the cam 1T in position to strike the lever '10:3 and move it (,lrm'nwardly for operation of the feeder 100 immediately after operation of the plungers 82.

To insure proper settling` of the charge in the cup and levelling thereof to some extent, means is provided for oscillating the cup in its upward movement, just prior to its linal discharge i'novement. The cup oscillating means consistsof a number of pins 91 set in the bar 3U, havingl rounded ends exposed en the same side of the bar with said cam face and projecting` slightly', as shown. These are retained in pairs by means of pins 92 inserted through the rod l() erosswise of the pins 91 which are recessed to receive the pins 5)':2 as shown. As the roller 54 travels over the projections of the pins 91 it is rapidly raised and lowered, causing a consequent rapid oscillation of the cup and the settling of its contents, as will be readily understood.

'lin operation, a quantity of stock havin-g' been introduced into the receiving portion S3 of the hoi per, it will be admitted through the opening 94 to the box 95, and upon operation of the mechanism permittingmovement of the carriage 33 to its lowermost position the plungers 82 will agitate the contents of the box and the feeder 100 will thrust material inwardly over the opening 2T whereby the cup 47 will be filled. The cam 17 will shortly thereafter have moved to a position where it will raise the arm 14 (through the wiper 16, arm 15 and shaft 13), raising the cup through the stock which may be within Vthe box 95, and when near the upper limit of movement of the piston the roller 54, travelling over the exposed portions of the pins 91 will jostle the cup by lateral oscillation, causing settling of the contents, and permitting` articles above the cup to settle thereinto, as well as shaking off any portion in excess of a predetermined average, in case the settling docs not accommodate all of the material heaped upon the cup. The roller 54 then engages the inclined cam surface 3Q, causing movement of the cup toward dircharge position, which movement begins gradually and is accelerated for the catapulting action before indicated. Continued rotation of the cam 1T permits return movenient of the carriage downwardly, the roller 54 travelline' ra y)idl` downward on the cam face 32 with consequent movement of the` cup 47 to initial posit'on as the piston 42 continues its downward movement. Undue shock in stoppage of the cup at its initial pc ition is prevented by the action of the piston in the cylnder 79, these two elements comprising a dash-pot. The carriage 233 at the lower limit of its movement engages the cushion 64 of the lower dash-pot :The cup 47 is constructed to permit its Lerares adjustment to vary the measure by the provision of an inner bottom portion 10T, the interior of the cup being threaded at the inner part and the member' 107 being` adapted to screw thereinto to vary the depth of the cup. l2 he bottom 10T in the present instance has side portions 108 extended leyond Vthe threads ofv the cup and turned outwardly to lie snugly adjacent the inner perimetric surface of the cup, whereby damage of the contents of the cup by the threads will be guarded against.

in the lrown bag idling machine above mentioned, as is well understood, the shaft 11 is a regular feature, moving in synehronism with the funnel device 55), so that for the operation of the present mechanism in coordination with the regular machine, it is only necessary to 'position the cams 26 and properly on the shaft 1i. The stroke of the piston 4) may be. regulated to insure its full upward movement or to guard against excessive movement upwardly by means of the nuts 3S screwed upon the link 3i', the nuts engaging the opposite sides of the bloei; 35h Bags 60 are positioned to receive the funnel by means of a bag presenting' device diagrammatically indicated at 61, and a bag opening device 62 cooperates with the funnel 59.

In 'Figure 16 there is shown an agitator which has been used successfully in the hopper, which operates with a movement similar to that of the agitator 100, and is similarly mounted. It is provided with an arm below its pivot extending` laterally outward from the machine and connected at its extremity by alink 104 to the wiper 86, whereby the same cam 87 and spring 88 that operate the plungers 82 also will operate the agitator 100. lNhen the notch 90 of the wiper 86 alines with the high part of the cam the spring 88 acts to move the agitator 100 inward through the side of the hopper, jostling the contents and forcing them toward the measure.

I claim:

1. Ina hopper device comprising a container arranged and constructed to deliver stock medially through the bottom, a measure movable to receive stock so delivered, means to operate the measure, plungers mounted for movement from wthout the container to a position therewithin when said measure is in receivingl position, a hopper portion having lateal conmiunication with the conta'ner at its lower part, one of said plungers being of substantial size and movable across the lower part of the hopper toward the said container for the purposes described.

2. In a device of the character described, a hopper, a guide, a carriage reciproeable on the guide toward and from the hopper, a piston on the carriage movable into the hopper and having a measure receptacle at the 3. The structure of claim 2 in wiich the guide is formed with a'lower rectilinear part, and formed at the upper part to constitute said cam.

4. The structure ot claim 2 in which the guide is of rectilnear form at thelowcr p and is thickened at its upper part. to form said cam element, .l rocker. element comprising a spring-pressed cranked lever pivoted on the carriage having said wiper thereon to engage the guide for guidance of the carriage and actuation by said cam, and a bearing element on the carriage engaging the guide opposite the wiper.

5. The structure ot claim 2 in which the guide is of rectilinear form at the lower part and is thickened at its upper part to form said cam element said rocker element comprising a spring-pressed bell crank lever, said wiper engaging the guide, and a multiplicity of cam elements on the guide below said rst named cam elem-ent and ot slight altitude, to enga-ge said wiper for jostling of the measure.

6. In a machine of the character described, a container for materials to be measured, a measure receptacle open at the upper side, means to move the measure upwardly through the container, to eiiect discharge of the measure, and means to the measure during upward movement in the container, whereby to settle material in the measure, and to dislodge excess.

7. The structure ot claim 2 in which the mea-sure has a stem pivoted on the piston, a gear segment on the stem concentric with its pivot, a rack meshed therewith longitudinally reciprocable in the piston, and means to operate the. rack.

8. In a measuring` device, a carriage element and a measure supported thereby mounted for movement with the carriage to and from receiving position and having relative movement for discharge of contents by a catapulating action, means to operate the carriage and the measure, and a dash pot having one element mounted on the carriage and the other connected to the measure.

9. In a device of the character described, a tiltable measure having a gear segment in the plane of tilting movement, a rack meshed therewith, a dash pot having one element pivotally connected to an extension of the rack and its other element pivotally supported, a lever pivotally connected with the rack and means to oscillate the lever to operate the rack.

l0. In a device of the character described,

a vertical guide, a carriage reciprocable thereon, a hopper above the pathof the cai'- riage, a piston on the carriage movable into the hopper, a tiltable measure on `the upper end of the piston to aline with the piston at one limit oit its movement and having a gear segment within the piston, a rack longitudinally slidable in the piston meshedwith the gear and mounted for sliding and pivotal `movement upon the gear, a cam beside the path of the carriage, a spring-pressed bell crank lever pivoted on the carriage vtor oscillation'in the plane oit oscillation ot' the raclr, having a wiper engaging the cam and being pivotally connected tothe rack, and a dash pot having oneeleinent pivoted on the carriage andthe other pivotedon the rack.

1l. The appliance of claim l0 in which the guide is ,termed with a thicken-ed part as the cam, and is provided with a lower rectilinear part, and a multiplicity ot pins set in the rectilinear part having ends eX- posed to engage the wiper for limited oscillation of the measure.

l2. In a device of the character described, a hopper having an opening in the bottom thereof, a measure slidable therethrough 'from below to a point above the level of stock for discharge, means to move stock toward said opening and separate means to jostle stock immediately adjacent said opening, comprising a multiplicity of plungers slidable through the lower part of the hopper arranged around said opening, and means t0 operate the plungers when th-e measure is in receiving position constructed to move said plungers a comparatively slight distance into the hopper and out ot' the hopper.

18. The device ot claim 12 in which certain plungers are mounted on a common frame, an operating rod engaged therewith, a wiper arm on the rod having a high part and a recessed part, a spring engaging the plunger and rod assembly tending to pro- V'ect the Jluncers into the ho er, and a rotating cam engaged with the arm in opposition to the spring, shaped to permit movement of the plungers by the spring.

14. The device of claim l2 in which the hopp-er has a box portion for holding a limited amount of stock, and a major lateral part having communication with the 'box portion at the lower part one ot the plungers comprising a body slidable through the side of the lateral part ot the hopper toward the box portion.

15. In a device of the character described, a hopper having a funnel-shaped receiving portion, a boX portion having lateral communication with the receiving portion at the lower part only, the box portion having a central measure-loading opening, a curved plunger l'iaving pivotal mounting below the hopper, the plunger being concentric with its pivot and slidable through the side of the receiving part of the hopper toward the box portion, and means to oscillate the plunger.

16. In a device of the character described, a hopper including a box portion and a receiving portion leading thereinto at one side, a pivoted plunger having an outer curved part concentric with its pivot and slidable into the hopper through the receiving portion toward the box and means to operate the plunger.

17. In a device of the character described, a tiltable measure having a gear segment in the plane of tilting movement, a rack meshed therewith, a roller mounted with its periphery arranged to engage upon the rack opposite the gear segment to support the rack in engagement with the gear segment, and means to operate the rack.

18. In apparatus of the character described, a measure carrying carriage, means to operate the carriage, a dash-pot having one element stationary and the other connected to said carriage, a measure mounted upon the Carriage for movement from a receiving position to discharge position on the carriage, means to operate the measure, and a dash-pot having one element operatively associated with the carriage and the other connected to the measure.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

ANALDO M. ENGLISH. 

